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PANDYA INSCRIPTIONS
INSCRIPTION
OF THE EARLY PANDYAS
No. 76.
(A. R. No.
270 of 1928.)
Kottai-Karungulam, Nanguneri Taluk, Tirunelveli
District.
On the north wall of the
Rajasimhesvara temple.
This damaged inscription in Vatteluttu characters
belongs to the time of Sadaiya-Maran and is dated in some year opposite
to the 2nd year of his reign.
It refers to the stone temple of Rajasingechchuvaram at Karungulam
and to the gift of something for a perpetual lamp to be burnt in it. The temple must have been built by
Rajasimha, after whom the god appears to have been so named.
No. 77.
(A. R. No. 301 of 1916.)
Ambasamudram, Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District.
On the south wall of the Erichchavudaiyar temple.
This incomplete inscription of Sadaiya-Maran,
the date of which is lost, refers to a certain Manabharanan-Podiyil-Velan whose
wife may have provided perhaps for the burning of a lamp in the temple of
Tirupottudaiya-Bhatara at Ilangoykkudi. From the mention of Manabharana
as the surname of the person, it may be inferred that it was probably a biruda
of the king Sadaiya-Maran himself. It
does not occur, however, in his copper plate grant from Sinnamanur.
No. 78.
(A. R. No. 440 of 1907.)
Sinnamanur, Periyakulam Taluk, Madurai District.
On the west wall of the Lakshminarayana-Perumal
temple.
This Tamil inscription is dated in the 46th
year of a Sadaiya-Maran,
whose identity with the other king of the same name is not clear, in the
absence of similar records bearing such high regnal years. It differs from the usual run of
inscriptions of this period in its registering an order (kaichcham) of
the sabha of Arikesarinallur, a brahmadeya in Ala-nadu, regulating
the supply of water from the channel called Srikantha-vaykkal, apparently to
temple lands.
No. 79.
(A. R. No. 420 of 1914.)
Pallimadam, Aruppukkottai Taluk, Ramanathapuram
District.
On the south base of the Kalanthasvamin temple.
This record is dated in the 3rd year
opposite to the 4th year of the reign of Vira-Pandya
who took the head of the Cholaâ and registers a gift of sheep by Solantaka
Pallavaraiayn alias Maran-Adichchan of Poliyur in
Poliyur-nadu for burning a lamp in the temple of god Sundara-pandya-Isvarattu-Bhatara
at Tiruchchuliyal a devadana in Paruttikkudi-nadu. Sundara-Pandya Isvaram must have been named
after a king or prince of that name. The village is called Pallimadai or probably Pallipadai, in which latter
case, the shrine may have been built in memory of a Sundara-Pandya.
A certain chieftain of Poliyur called Maran-Achchan alias Tennavan-Pallavaraipan figures in a record dated 4 + 1st
year,
593rd day of a Maranjadaiyan from Tirupputtur,
and he was probably an earlier member of the family to which the Maran-Achchan
of this inscription belonged. Here he
bears the title of Cholantaka-Pallavaraiyan from the biruda of the king
Vira-Pandya namely Cholantaka, i.e.,
âgod of death to the Cholaâ which is equivalent to âSolanralaikondaâ which is
found in all his records. From this
fact it is clear that a Chola king had actually been kill by Vira-Pandya. From a record of this king from Ambasamudram it has been possible to fix his initial
date as A.D. 946.
No. 80.
(A. R. No. 421 of 1914.)
Pallimadam, Aruppukkottai Taluk, Ramanathapuram
District.
On the south base of the Kalanathasvamin temple.
This inscription is dated in the 4th
year opposite to the 4th year of the same kingâs reign. It registers a gift of sheep by Arulali, the
headman of a village in Venbu-nadu, for burning a lamp in the temple of god
Sundara-Pandya-Isvarattu-Devar at Tiruchchuliyal, for the merit of his son
Kandan-Devan.
No. 81.
(A. R. No. 87 of 1907.)
Ambasamudram, Ambasamudram Taluk Tirunelveli
District.
On the base of a ruined shrine in the tirumulanatha
temple.
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This record dated in the 4th year
opposite to the 4th year of the king, records the gift of land
in Kilur-kundukalam by a tinaikkalattan
of Nakkur in Venbu-nadu, for providing for the expenses of feeding some
brahmanas, who chanted some portions of the Vedas in the presence of god
Tiruchchalaitturai-ninrarnlina-Emberuman of Ilangoykkudi, a brahmadeya
of Mulli-nadu. A shrine or hall called
Srikaranatiruchchittirakutam is also referred to in this record. The astronomical details of the day, namely,
Dhanus month and Svati-nakshatra are of no use in determining the date of the
record.
No. 82.
(A. R. No. 424 of 1914.)
Pallimadam, Aruppukkottai Taluk, Ramanathapuram
District.
On the south wall of the Kalanathasvamin temple.
This record dated in the 5th year
opposite to the 4th year of the kingâs reign relates to the
assignment of the sheep belonging to the temple to several shepherds, for the
supply of ghee for burning lamps therein.
No. 83.
(A. R. No. 429 of 1914.)
Pallimadam, Aruppukkottai Taluk, Ramanathapuram
District.
On the base of the west wall of the Kalanathasvamin
temple.
This record of Vir-Pandya is dated in the 5th
year opposite to the 4th year of his reign and is damaged and
incomplete. It appears to enumerate the devaradiyur who were connected with the temple of Sundar-Pandya-Isvaram
at Pallipadai in Tiruchchuliyal, a devadana in paruttikkudi-nadu.
No. 84 and 85.
(A. R. Nos. 627 and 627 of 1910.)
Kilmattur, Madurai Taluk, Madurai District.
On the north wall of the Manikanthesvara temple.
This inscription is dated in the 5th
year opposite to the 4th year of the kingâs reign. It states that the affairs of the stone
temple named Srikanthesvaram erected by Tennavan Kandan Sattan for the god Bhatara at Tirumattur, were examined by this officer, and that the wet
and dry lands belonging to the temple priests (aganaligaiyar) drummers,
etc., situated in Birundaiyur, were also properly checked and regulated.
The fact that the old devadana lands were checked in the time of
Vira-Pandya indicates that the temple had existed from earlier times, probably
as a brick structure, and that it was now rebuilt of stone by this chieftain,
with the new name of Srikanthesvaram, after his own name of Kandan, and the flower-garden
called âSolantakanâ was endowed in the name of the king himself. This chieftain is called Tennavan-Tamilavel
in another record.
No. 85 which is fragmentary, probably belonging to
the same record, is engraved on several slabs in the same wall and relates to
the apportionment of the taxes to be levied from the lands in Tirumattur
belonging to the temple, among the aganaligaiyar, uvachhar and
others.
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No. 85.
Other fragmentary portions belonging to this record
are :
(A. R. No. 627 of 1926.)
No. 86.
(A. R. No. 86 of 1926.)
Kilmattur, Madurai Taluk, Mdurai District.
On the west wall of the Manikanthesvara temple.
This record of Vira-Pandya is dated in the 5th
year opposite to the 5th year instead of being dated opposite to
the 4th year, as in the earlier records. The stones of this record are disarranged, and some portion of
the document is lost. It mentions that
some lands in the village called Parantakanallur alias Vamadevamangalam
which was situated in the subdivision Madakkulakkil and which belonged to the
temple were examined by some officer apparently the one figuring in another
record
in the same temple, and the paddy derivable from them were fixed for the
requirements of worship and offerings to the god Bhatara at Tiruvamattur.
No. 87.
(A. R. No. 626 of 1926.)
Kilmattur, Madurai Taluk, Madurai District.
On the south wall of the Manikanthesvara temple.
The inscription in Tamil poetry is fragmentary ;
but from the available portion, it can be inferred that it refers to the
building of the temple at Tirumattur by a certain Tamilavel in about the 8th year of reign of Vira-Pandya. This record contains an eulogy of this
chieftain. There is a reference to some
who was well-versed in Sanskrit and Tamil works, such as the Vedas, the Puranas,
Patanjala mudar-panuval, etc. As
the name Tennavan is mentioned in another record, that word combined with
Tamilavel seems to give the full title âTennavan-Tamilavelâ of the
chieftain, who erected the Srikanthesvaram temple in stone. This chief figures in a record dated in the
12th year of Vira-Pandya at Ambasamudram in the Tirunelveli
district.
No. 88.
(A. R. No. 423 of 1914.)
Pallmadam, Aruppukkottai Taluk, Ramanathapuram
District.
On the west wall of the Kalanathasvamin temple.
To the same king Vira-Pandya belongs this record
dated in the 7th year opposite to the 4th year of his reign. It registers a gift of sheep for burning a lamp in the matha
of Mahavratigal attached to the temple of Sundarapandya-Isvaram at
Pallipadai. The existence of a Mahavrati-matha
at this place is of interest. The
Muvarkoyi inscription
of the Kodumbalur chieftain
Bhuti-Vikramakesarin, who was probably a contemporary of this Pandya king,
because he claims to have come into conflict with him, also refers to the fact
that chief favoured the Saiva sect and that one of its teachers was a native of
Madurai.
No. 89.
(A. R. No. 13 of 1927.)
Vijayanarayanam, Nanguneri Taluk, Tirunelveli
District.
On the south wall of the Manonmanisvara temple.
This record is dated in the 12th year
of the king and refers to a gift of sheep for burning a lamp in the temple,
whose name is given, namely, Manomayanisvaram at
Viayanarayana-chaturvedimangalam. It is
not known whose title âManomaya was ; but it already occurs in the time of
Sadiaya-Maran. It may be remarked that
the regnal year which had been cited as some year opposite to the 4th
up till the 11th year is now quoted as only one year, as the 12th
in this record. This practice was in
vogue up till the 15th year, when with that year as constant, the further
years are quoted as 15 + 4 and 15+5. No. 91 below however cites the year 13 + 1. The significance of this is not clear.
No. 90.
(A. R. No. 426 of 1914.)
Pallimadam, Aruppukkottai Taluk, Ramanathapuram
District.
On the north base of the Kalanathasvamin temple.
This record dated in the 13th year of
the reign of Vira-Pandya registers a gift of 100 sheep by a certain
Arangam-Pudi alias Poliyurnattur-Muvendavelan of Suduvuin Poliyur-nadu,
for burning a lamp in the temple of Sundara-Pandya-Isvaram at Pallimadai. These sheep were left in charge of several
individuals, who had to measure stimulated quantities of ghee to the temple.
No. 91.
(A. R. No. 548 of 1926.)
Srivilliputtur, Srivilliputtur Taluk,
Ramanathapuram District.
On the south wall of the mandapa in the
Perumal temple.
This record which belongs to Vira-Pandya is dated
in the year opposite to the 13th year of his reign, different
from the usual method in which the years quoted were opposite to the 4th
year. It is stated that the sabha
of Villipputtur, a brahmadeya in Malli-nadu, which had met in the temple
of Tirukkarrali-Mahadeva, sold some lands newly constituted into a hamlet
called Agara-dhanma-mangalam, to a certain official named
Satrubhayakara-Muvendavelan alias Velan-Paranjoti of Perungulam in Tiruvaludi-valanadu, for instituting
some charities in the two temples of Jalasayanattu-kkidandarulina-Paramasvamin
and Tirukkarrali-Mahadevar in the village.
Among the boundaries of the village are mentioned
the names of Marapputtur, Irambadu, and Srikantamangalam. Satrubhayankara was evidently a title borne
by a Pandya king, possibly Vira-Pandya himself.
The penalty to be imposed on those who obstruct
this charity is specified, namely, in the case of an individual, it was 50 pon
but if the Sabha itself was at
fault, the fine was 500 pon.
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No. 92.
(A. R. No. 233 of 1932-33.)
Perungulam, Srivaikuntam Taluk, Tirunelveli
District.
On the south wall of the Tiruvaludisvara temple.
This record, dated in the 15th year
of the reign of Vira-Pandya, registers a gift of cows for maintaining a
perpetual lamp in the temple of Tiruvaludivaram in Tiruvaludi-valanadu by a
private person of the same village. The aganaligaiyar or the men in
charge of the inner precincts of the temple undertook to burn the lamp.
No. 93.
(A. R. No. 238 of 1932-33.)
Perungulam, Srivaikuntam Taluk, Tirunelveli
District.
On the south wall of the Tiruvaludisvara temple.
This incomplete inscription is dated in the 15th
year of Vira-Pandya and relates to the gift of buffaloes by the wife of Pandimarttanda-Pallavaraiyan alias Sennappa of
Kurungudi in Manavira-valanadu, a subdivision of Tiruvaludi-valanadu, to burn a
lamp in the temple of Tiruvaludisvarattu-Alvar at Perungulam in
Tiruvaludi-valanadu, for the merit of her husband and herself.
The titles Tiruvaludi, Manavira and Pandimarttanda
are noteworthy. âValudi,â though it is
a general title of Pandya kings has perhaps special reference to the early
Pandya king Palyagasalai Mudukudumi-Peruvaludi who is referred to in the
Velvikkudi copper plate grant. âManviraâ must have been a title assumed by a Pandya king, presumably
earlier than Vira-Pandya. Pandimarttanda-valanadu occurs as the name of a district in the time of
Rajasimha himself, and as such it must have been probably a title of Rajasimha.
No. 94.
(A. R. No. 474 of 1909.)
Edirkottai, Sattur Taluk, Ramanathapuram District.
On a rock close to the Sunaikanthesvara temple.
This inscription of the 15 + 14th
year of the king relates to a gift of sheep by Achchan, a resident of the
cloth merchants, quarters (aruvai-vaniya-chcheri) for burning a lamp in
the temple of Sunaikkudi-Bhatara.
No. 95.
(A. R. No. 101 of 1905.)
Ambasamudram, Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli
District.
On the south wall of the Erichchavudaiyar temple.
This record dated in the 5th year
opposite to the 15th year of the king is the latest record found
for him. It confirms a royal order made in the 12th year of the
king, which was carried into effect now. It is important as mentioning the occurrence of a solar eclipse in the
month of Mithuna in the 12th year of Vira-Pandyaâs reign and helps
to fix A.D. 946-47 as the date of his accession. It registers a gift of 10 veli of
land by the king for providing worship and offerings to the deities in the
temple of Tiruppottudaiya-Mahadeva at Ilangaykkudi, a brahmadeya in
Mulli-nadu. An officer of the king
named Cholantaka-Brahmamarayar and another named Tamilavelan figure in the
record.
No. 96.
(A. R. No. 12 of 1927.)
Vijayanarayananm, Nanguneri Taluk, Tirunelveli
District.
On the south wall of the Manonmanisvara temple.
This damaged record belongs to the reign of Vira-Pandya. The regnal year is first. It relates to a gift of sheep for a lamp to
be burnt apparently in the temple of Vijayanarana-chaturvedimangalam a brahmadeya
in Nattarruppokku by a certain Narayanapiran-Devan of Perumarudur in Salagramam.
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
No. 97.
(A. R. No. 294 of 1916.)
Singampatti, Ambasamudram taluk, Tirunelveli
District.
On a rock in a field in
Melai-Singampatti.
This Vatteeluttu inscription of eight short lines
is engraved in early characters but owing to the condition of the rock, as well
as the peculiar nature of the script, its purport cannot be clearly made
out. It is not dated in the reign of any
Pandya king known to epigraphy, but appears, however, to refer to the death of
some hero probably in one of the frontier skirmishes, which were frequent
events in early, Pandya history.
The writing may be attributed to the 7th
century A.D. and may be compared with the label inscription of two lines
engraved in the rock-cut cave at Pillaiyarpatti,
Ramanathapuram district and another label at Aivarmalai,
Madurai district.
No. 98.
(A. R. No. 66 of 1905.)
Anaimalai, Madurai Taluk, Madurai District.
At the entrance into the mandapa of the cave near the Narasinga-Perumal
temple.
This inscription is engraved in Vatteluttu
characters of the early 9th century A.D. It states that a certain Nambiranbhatta-Somasi-Parivirajakar
renovated (pudukku) something, which refers evidently to the mandapa,
where it is found. Though no kingâs
name is mentioned, the record may be attributed to the early Pandya times.
No. 99-106.
(A. R. No. 67 to 74 of 1905.)
Anaimalai, Madurai Taluk, Madurai District.
On a rock with sculptures overhanging a natural
cave.
The following lable
inscriptions in Vatteluttu and Tamil characters are engraved below the images
of the Jaina gods sculptured in half-relief on the rock near the cave at
Anaimalai. They are attributable to
about the beginning and end of the 9th century A.D., and as they
must have been incised in Pandya times only, their texts are reproduced below.
No. 99.
(A. R. No.
67 of 1905.)
No.
100.
(A. R. No.
68 of 1905.)
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